Ware-kiln.



`A. B. KLAY.

WARE KILN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 191e.

Patented May 15, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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Wnesses:

A. '8. KLAY.

WARE KILN.

APPLICATION mw mAYal. 1916.

1,226,535. Patented May 15, 1917.

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' rn vento l Witness es .brahavzjlcy A. B. KLAY.

WARE KILN.

APPLICATION FILED MAYBI, I9I6.

' Patented May 15, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

by Clorneg.

A. B. KLAY.

WARE KILN.

APPLICATION FILED III/w31, I9I6.

1,226,535. Intermed May15,1917.

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i TTED sTATEs PATENT oFFioE.

' ABRAHAM B. KLAY, OF MODESTO, CALIFORNIA.

WARE-KILN.

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates. to kilns for burning variouskinds of ware and contemplates the provision` of a continuous kiln having an endless burning chamber with a plurality of burners disposed in sequence throughout the full length of the chamber, and wherein i ware may be disposed from some point therein after thelfurnaces in part have been started or `fired, the, kiln being progressively filled `with ware throughout the whole course ofthe'burning chamber by successively rendering the furnaces active until the starting point is reached, the burning of the ware first placed in the kiln being then in condition for removal and replacement by unburnt ware. In the improved kiln the continuous burning, chamber and disposition `of the furnaces or fire pits therein in regular sequence throughout the length of the chamber resultsV in a uniform distribution of heat and even coloring relatively to the ware and maximum efficiency. in operation over a large `kiln area with a minimum consumption of fuel and a materially increased output of the burnt or completed product.

The furnaces or re pits are located in the bottom of the burning chamber and are ar-V ranged in alternative positions and fed with fuel through inlets thereover in the top or arch of the chamber and through temporary Openings formed by stacking the Ware around thefurnaces or pits from the bottom to the top portion ofthe chamber, the` bottom of the chamber having communicating passages or flues opening into the several furnaces or fire pits and ca able o-f modification to eiect as thorough urning and coloring of the ware on the chamber bottom as at higher elevations in the chamber. The burning chamber also has simple air ingress means for the several furnaces or pits whereby the fires may be fed with natural air, or forced by air under pressure as may be found necessary. The stacks are located at regular intervals at opposite sides Specification of Letters Patent.

of the burning chamber fully throughout the length of the latter and have openings communicating with the chamber at different elevations, these openings being also capable of temporary closure to render the draft and heat uniform in all parts of the chamber. The arrangement of the stacks along opposite sides of the chamber as specified provides for rapid escape or elimination of the smoke from the fires, water smoke generated from the ware and all other products of combustion from the furnaces or fire pits, and as a consequence the operation of burning the ware may be more'satisfactorily and expeditiously carried on with less incon- Patented May 15,' 1917..

Application filed May 31, 1916. serial No. 100,932.

venience in placing the ware and in producing a finished product which will be found to be of superior quality and practically of a uniform gra-de.

A structural disclosure of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and therein:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line 1 1, Fig. 5, and illustrating a continuous kiln embodying the features of the invention.

Fi'g. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section of a-portion of the improved kiln and particularly showing the furnaces or lire pits and means for adjusting the passages or lues in the bottom relatively to the furnaces or fire pits and the air feeding means, the section being taken in the plane of the line 2 2, Fig. 3. y

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane of the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4L is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane ofy theline 4 4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane of the line 5 5, Fig. 1, and showing a superstructure over the kiln to illustrate the arrangement of the stacks and the position of the kiln relatively to the ground surface.

The kiln as particularly illustrated by Fig. 5 is located below the ground surface and is elongated and substantially rectangular in form with rounded ends as shown by Fig. 1. The kiln essentially comprises a bottom 5 which is uniformly level or has all parts thereof in the same horizontal plane; and intersecting the bottom 5 are inner and i outer side walls 6 and 7 which are connected by a continuous arched top S. At regular intervals throughout the length of the kiln are opposedpairs of stacks 9 provided with regulating slide or other dampers 10 which maybe adjusted as found necessary, said dampers 10 being located above the varched top S. The bottom 5 and side walls 6 and 7 will be formed of suitable lire brick or other hard heat resisting components, the bottom being preferably made up of a plurality of square brick or slabs 11, as clearly shown by Fig. 2, which are in part removable for a purpose which will be more fully hereinafter explained, Beneath the bottom 5 and over the opposite sides of the kiln is a cement or other covering 12, the said covering forming an inclosure wall with the side portions thereof terminating at the upper surface of the ground. rIhis outer wall isa protective means to maintain the kiln in dry condition and also to reinforce the .structure generally. 1t will be understood that the bottom 5, side walls 6 and 7 and top arch 8 form a continuous burning ory firing chamber 13 which continues uninterruptedly throughout the whole length of the kiln, this burning' chamber being partitioned only at such .times when it may become necessary to build up a temporary wall either of brick or of paper while filling the kiln and after a part of the furnaces has been started and during the progressive placement of the ware therein to protect the workmen, the temporary brick walls being removed after the ware is burnt and the paper walls becoming consumed by firing without injury to the ware in the kiln. This' temporary wall structure is the common practice in the art of burning ware in a kiln and has not been shown as it does not form part of the invention. At Vintervals the inside walls 6, which are spaced a predetermined distance and have a filling of earth 1st there- I between as clearly shown by Figs. 1 and 5,

are formed with passages or openings 15 which provide ingress and egress means relatively to the continuous chamber 13, the openings 15`also forming means of communication with elevator wellsy or supplemental chambers 16 wherein suitable elevators 17 areoperatively disposed for conveying the ware from a point above the kiln downwardly thereto, or vice versa,

` whereby the unburnt ware may be lowered by one elevator andthe burnt or completed ware raised by the other elevator. The elevators 17 are arranged in pairs 'in each well or supplemental chamber 16,' and as is ywell known in the art of ware burning trucks are commonly employed to convey the ware into the burning chamber and in the present instance the trucks will be run upon and from the elevators and will in part carry unburnt and burnt ware. rihis mode of disposing the ware in the chamber 13 and removing the ware therefrom will be found very expeditious or a time saving means in charging and discharging a kiln. The arched top 8 will, of course, extend across or over the supplemental chambers 16, openings being formed at intervals in the said arched top for the movement of the elevators 17 upwardly through the said top. The openings 15 will be temporarily closed when the kiln is filled and remain closed during the burning operation, and when it is desired to remove the burnt products or after vthe ware has been sufficiently burnt, these temporary closures of the openings 15 will be removed. The removal of these naces or fire pits 18 and 19 which are transversely alined, the furnaces or fire pits 1,9 being located in line with the central portions of the spaces between the furnaces or fire pits 18, as clearly shown by Fig. 2. These furnaces or lire lpits 18 and 19l are closed by removable square bricks or slabs 20 when the chamber is empty, and as the ware is progressively stacked in the said chamber the bricks or slabs 2O are removed and the ware is stacked therearound to form vertical openings which are continued to the top of the `ware so as to form feed passages for depositing fuel in the furnaces orI fire pits. `The bricks or slabs 2O are held supported as closing means for the furnaces or fire pits by a plurality of bricks 21 with their ends upwardly and resting on the top surface of the main bottom wall 22l above which the bricks or slabs 11 which form the bottom or floor of the burning chamber are held through the medium ofrother bricks 21 also arranged with ends up and spaced to provide a plurality of intercommunicating passages or iues 23. The bricks 21 are also spaced, as at 25, see Fig. 2, and the spaces therebetween have communication with the passages or flues 23. By this means the loal burning chamber is provided with a pluralforcefully or under compression to the fur naces or fire pits, said means consisting of main feedingpipes 27 having depending branch pipes `28 terminating in inturned nozzles 29 opening into ducts 30 which are arranged relatively to the alternate furnacesor ire pits 18 and 19 to alternately extend outwardly to opposite sides of the kiln,` or the nozzles 29 alternately `extend into opposite sides of the kiln and terminate at their inner ends close to the side portions of the cement wall or covering 12 so as to avoid burning off the ends of thenozzles. The ducts 30 terminate with the innermost furnace or ire pit of each group, as clearly shown by Fig. 2, or the said ducts 30 extend only partially across the bottom of the chamber 13. All of the branch pipes 28 will be preferably connected to a common supply source or air inlet pipe 31, shown` by dotted lines in Fig. 2, `and valves 32 will be arranged at intervals to control the feed of the air through the branch pipes 28 and their nozzles 29 so that said branch pipes and nozzles may be opened and closed relatively to the supply of air as may be desired. i

The furnaces or fire pits 18 and19 are supplied with fuel through the arched top 8 by feed tubes 33 and 34 projecting through `the said arched top or dome of the burning chamber and respectively alining with the said furnaces or fire pits V18 and 19. The feed tubes 33 open through a floor 35 laid over the arched top or dome 8, and when the ware is properly stacked within the burning chamber the passages formed in the ware around the furnaces or fire pits 18 and 19 will extend from the bottom or flooring of the burning chamber close to the lower ends of the said tubes 33, and by this means the fuel may be accurately directed to and be disposed in the several furnaces or fire pits.

The stacks 9 start from the floor or bottom 5 of the burning chamber 13 and are y in part formed by the inner and outer side walls G and 7 and are completed by outward extensions or stack side and end walls 36, as shownby Fig. 2, the outer protective inclosure 12 following the outer conguration produced `by the extensions in the formation of the stacks. It will be understood that the stacks will be constructedof suitable1 hard or vitreous brick or any preferred form of fire brick, these stacks rislng a considerable distance above the arched top or `dome 8 of the burning chamber 13 to convey the smoke and gases at a suitable elevationaway fromthe burning chamber and `also to form supportingmeans for a superstructure 37 built over the kiln and adapted to be used asa drier for green ware. This `drying superstructure in combination `in the said opening 43. ymay be found that more fire effect or a with the kiln belou7 is made the subject-mat- 6 ter of a separate application filed June 10, 1916, Serial No. 103,004. The superstructure 37, however, has a plurality of openings 38 at the sides and ends provided with suitable sliding closures 39 and also a main 7 inlet 40, as sho-wn by Fig. 1. Through the main inlet 40 the ware ready for burning or preliminary drying, as the case may be, is brought into the superstructure over the kiln by means of trucks or other convey- 7 ances or transporting means and brought to the elevators 17 and then lowered to the kiln if the Ware thus transported is dried and ready for burning. The burnt ware or completed product is removed from the kiln 8 when the latter has sufiiciently cooled and taken out through thedoor openings 38 and stored, or, it may be immediately loaded on cars on tracks 41 and 42 arranged at opposite sides of the kiln, as shown by Fig. 1. 8 These tracks may also be used as a means for running fuel cars close to opposite sides of the kiln, and from these cars the fuel will be deposited in suitable repositories or cellars usually provided in kilns for this 9 purpose. e

In some cases it will not be necessary to use the air under pressure through the nozzles 29 to give proper draft to the lires in the furnaces or fire pits, as the stacks 9 may 9 be ample, especially in view of their verti e cal extent at a considerable distance above the kiln, as shown by Fig. 5. Each stack, as shown by Fig. 3, has a lower enlarged opening 43 directly inline with the floor l or bottom 5 of the chamber 13, and above the opening 43 is an intermediate opening 44, and at a still higher elevation is a top opening 45. The object of these openings 43, 44 and 45 .at different elevations in each l stack relatively to the burning or firing chamber 13 is to insure an equal burning of the ware throughout the vertical extent of the stack of the latter, and if it be found that lesslieat or draft is required relatively to the stacks 9 at the bottom or floor of the chamber 13 the lowerfopenings 43 will be temporarily plugged or closed, as at 46, which indicates in dotted lines 'any suitable closing means that may be readily removed and may consist of fire brick placed Furthermore, it

stronger drawing action relatively to the re or the `heat from the latter may bereouired at the top of the stack of the ware than at the intermediate portion thereof, and if such is the case the intermediate openings 44 will vbe temporarily plugged or closed, as indicated by dotted lines at 47, and then the openings45 will be the only outlets to the stacks 9. This modification of the openings 43, 44 and 45 as to their open i perfect control.

or closed condition may vary throughout the length of the burning chamber 13.

From the foregoing it will be seen that avery effective form of continuous kiln is provided wherein an equal distribution of heat may be maintained throughout the entire length of the burning chamber 13 uniformly at different elevations and under Moreover, the continuous kiln herein disclosed permits the uninterrupted and convenient disposition of the ware to be burnt therein with facility and also a rapiddischarge of the ware that has been completely burnt or properly colored and immediate replacement vof the burnt ware with unburnt ware, with material advantages in an increased output.

What is claimed is:

l. In a kiln, a ware chamber having intercommunicating furnaces below the bottom thereof, the furnaces having openings through the bottom of the chamber arranged in successive series in staggered relation,

and correspondingly arranged series of staggered flues in the top of the kiln at a distance from the chamber bottom and therespective series of openings disposed over the furnaces below for feeding the latter with fuel, there being a distinct flue for each opening.

vand means in the top of the chamber at a distance from the furnaces for feeding the latter with fuel.

3. In a kiln, a. ware chamber of continuous form having intermediate interior division wall means and a surrounding side wall, a plurality of stacks disposed throughout the full length of the chamber-and having direct communication with the latter through the said interniediate wall means and surrounding side wall. above the bottom of the chant ber, and means located below the bottom of the chamber and opening into the latter for heating the said chamber.

4f. In a kiln, a ycontinuous ware chamber having intermediate interior dividing wall means andv an outer surrounding sidewall, a plurality of furnaces opening through the bottom of the chamber in series throughoutV vided with air ducts extending in alternation to the opposite portions of the said surrounding wall, and means connected to said ducts for supplying the furnaces with natural air or air under pressure.

6. In a kiln, a ware chamber having an intermediate interior dividing wall means and an outer surrounding wall, a plurality of furnaces arranged in series in the bottom thereof fully throughout the area of the bottom, and stacks disposed in opposite relation in the Vinte-rior wall means and outer surrounding wall and having openings communicating lwith the chamber at varying elevations above the bottom.

7. ln a kiln, a ware chamber provided with an intermediate interior wall means and an outer surrounding side wall, heating means, and stacks arranged along the said interior wall means and outer wall of the chamber in opposing relation and having openings communicating with the chamber at different elevations.

8. 1n a kiln, a ware chamber provided with heating means, and stacks arranged along the opposite sides of the chamber in opposite relation and provided with openings of various dimensions communicating with the chamber at different elevations.

9. 1n a kiln, a ware chamber having heats ing means, and stacks arranged along the opposite sides of the chamber in opposite relation and provided with openings of various dimensions directly communicating with the chamberat different elevations, the larger openings being adjacent to the bottom of the chamber.

10. In a kiln, a ware chamber of continuous form having series of furnaces alternately arranged in staggered relation and located below and opening through the floor of the chamber and extending full length of the latter, and air feeding means independently communicating with each series of furnaces and alternately extending out through opposite sides of the kiln, the furnaces being constructedy for intercommunica-A tion throughout the whole series thereof.

11. v1n a kiln, a continuous ware chamber having a plurality of` furnaces opening through the bottom thereof, and closures forming part of the floor of the chamber and loosely mounted in the portions of the furnaces where they open through the bot-- tom of the chamber and removable and applicable from the interior of said chamber.

l2. In a kiln, a continuous ware chamber having inner division wall means and an outer surrounding side wall, intercommunidirectly communicating with the chamber above the `floor of the latter at different elevations.

13. In a kiln, a continuous ware chamber having furnaces opening through the bottom thereof fully throughout the length of the same, and loose means operable from the interior of the kiln for cutting off communication of the furnaces with the chamber and forming a continuation of the bottom of the latter'.

14. In a kiln, a continuous ware chamber having below the bottom thereof furnaces with openings through the bottom of said chamber and arranged in alternating seriesto dispose the openings of the furnaces of one series in alinement with the spaces between adjacent furnaces of the remaining series, and stacks communicating with the chamber above the bottom of the latter.

l5. In a kiln, a continuous ware chamber having a bottom provided with a plurality of furnaces below the same and opening therethrough and a series of flues transversely and longitudinally connecting the furnaces to fully heat the bottom kof the chamber and burn the ware regularly from the bottom to the top of the chambera 16. In a kiln, a continuous ware chamber having an intermediate interior wall means and an outer surrounding wall, ra plurality of furnaces opening through the bottom thereof and connected by intercommunicating flues below said bottom, and stacks in and extending upwardly from thevsaid intermediate wall means and surrounding wall and having openings directly communicating with the chamber.

17. In a kiln, a continuous ware chamber having an intermediate interior dividing wall means and an outer surrounding wall, a plurality of furnaces opening through the bottom thereof and connected by intercommunicating flues below said bottom, and

stacks in the said intermediate and outer surrounding wall and having openings directly communicating with the chamber at different elevations. y

18'. In a kiln, a continuous ware chamber having an intermediate interior dividing wall means and an outer surrounding wall, a plurality of furnaces opening through the bottom thereof and connected by'intercommunicating `flues below said bottom, and stacks in the intermediate wall means and outer surrounding wall and having openings of different sizes directly communicating with the chamber at various elevations.

19. In a kiln, a continuous ware chamber having a'bottom provided with a plurality of furnaces opening therethrough and a series of flues connecting the furnaces to fully heat the bottom, and means for cutting off the furnaces from the flues.

lthebottom ofthe latter', a plurality of the series of furnaces being disposed between `the opposed stacks.

21. In a kiln, a ware chamber having furnaces opening through the bottom thereof with intercommunicating heat flues therebetween below said bottom, and air ducts eX- tending into and communicating with the furnaces below the heat fines.

22. In a kiln, a ware chamber having furnaces opening through the bottom thereof with intercommunicating heatiiues therebetween below said bottom, air ducts eX- tending into and communicating with the furnaces below the heat flues, and stacks at opposite sides of and directly communieating with the chamber'.

23. In a kiln, a ware chamber having furnaces vopening through the bottom thereof with intercommunicating heat flues therebetween below said bottom, air duct-s eX- tending into and communicating with the furnaces below the heat fines, and stacks at opposite sides of and directly communieating with the chamber through the medium of openings arranged at different elevations. 1

24. In a kiln, a ware chamber of continuous form provided with an intermediate interior wall means and an outer surrounding wall, passages at intervals between and communicating through the intermediate interior wall means with opposite portions of said chamber.

25. In a kiln, a continuous ware chamber having intermediate interior dividing wall means and an outer surrounding wall, heating means, and well spaces in the intermediate interior dividing wall means and having opposite communicating openings with the chamber for charging and discharging the said chamber.

26. In a kiln, a continuous ware chamber having an interior dividing wall means and an outer surrounding wall, the interior dividing wall means being provided with well spaces having openings oppositely communicating with the chamber for charging and discharging the said chamber', heating means for the chamber, and elevators operatively disposed in the said well spaces.

27. In a kiln, a Continuous ware chamber disposed below ground surface and provided with an interior dividing wall, heating means and stacks, the interior dividing wall being provided with well spaces having opposite openings communicating with the chamber, and means located in the well spaces for lowering and elevating the ware in charging and discharging the said chainber.

28. In a kiln, a continuous ware Chamber having an interior `wall means heating Copies of this patent may be obtained for means and stacks arranged throughout the length thereof, and means arranged at intervals in the interior wall means Jfor moving the ware in charging and discharging the said chamber.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ABRAHAM B. KLAY.

yWitnesses:

CHAs. S. HYER, EDWARD P. REA.

iive [cents each, by addressing che Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

